Red Mansion and Crimson Pearl

Chapter 247 Going to Yangcheng Lake

October 23rd, 13:30 AM.

Prince Beijing's ship entered the Suzhou wharf.

The people who had been feasting on the boat for half the night were woken up one by one. They rubbed their eyes, washed and dressed, and then planned to walk off the boat and go into the city to have some Suzhou breakfast.

Liao Changshi had just finished washing up and walked out of the cabin.

Then the chief clerk of Liyang County, who had been ranked second in the imperial examinations several years ago, whose surname was Bing and who called himself Meilin, stepped forward and took his arm with a smile.

"Master, did you sleep well last night?"

After passing the imperial examination, Bing Meilin worked as a county magistrate in a small county under Changsha Prefecture for three years.

Because of the disagreement with his superiors, his performance evaluations were always bad. He could only reluctantly transfer to Liyang to be the chief clerk. All in all, he had wasted five or six years.

Now he and his county lord are still at odds. When he heard that Prince Beijing was coming to Jiangnan, he followed and served him closely, regardless of his lord's displeasure.

But people like him are arrogant because of their talent, but they don't have much talent, and their arrogance is ugly. No matter how hard you try, you can't like him.

Prince Beijing treated him neither too close nor too distant, neither intimate nor distant, and just left him alone.

Only Liao Changshi was quite friendly to him. He often tried to win him over on behalf of the Northern King, saying that the people the Northern King valued in his heart would not be brought out on the surface.

Seeing that he was trying to flatter her again, she smiled and replied, "Merlin, I drank a lot last night, and spent the night on the water. Are you used to it?"

Bing Meilin was overjoyed and said that he was used to it. He then asked about the boy's well-being.

Because he had been jealous of Cao Yu and Ouyang Bao for a long time.

For another two or three days, they stayed on the ship and watched with their own eyes how Prince Beijing trusted the two of them and how he praised them for being close to them.

Bing Meilin wished he could push those two men into the canal, one in each hand!

Now, finally, when Liao Changshi was alone, he flattered him for a while and made a slanderous remark:

"That fellow Ouyang Bao only cared about showing off and making the prince laugh.

"You're so-called serving the prince, but you don't do any real work for him. Is this also called serving the prince?

"As for Cao Yu, he is the brother of that old villain Cao Feng from the Ministry of Personnel. They are blood relatives!

"Cao Feng is your majesty's most loyal confidant.

"How could Cao Yu truly stand on the side of the prince?!

"He must be a spy that his brother planted beside the prince on behalf of the Emperor!

"Sir, you are the prince's right-hand man. You must not be deceived by such a kid!"

Liao Changshi was secretly impatient but refused to show it on his face. He just calmly pulled the sleeves of his arms out of his hands.

He laughed softly and said, "I know Merlin and those two are not of the same kind.

"But you are just talking nonsense. I need one or two pieces of evidence so that I can sue them in front of the prince, right?"

Bing Meilin was overjoyed and immediately said solemnly: "At the last banquet in Yangzhou, Ouyang Bao pretended to be drunk and lied.

"In public, he secretly compared the prince to the Emperor!

"Not to mention that he also used Gao Lishi to humiliate you, the Chief Secretary. He deserves death!

"Just the fact that he said this is a joke to anyone who hears it, so let's just laugh it off.

"But if the news spreads through the mouth of the singing girl and reaches the ears of His Majesty in the capital, what will His Majesty think?!"

Liao Changshi's face suddenly darkened.

Bing Meilin struck while the iron was hot and whispered, "He is trying to make the prince disloyal and unjust!

"Such a sinister intention, Cao Yu usually prides himself on being extremely smart, but he not only saw through such an obvious thing but also didn't say anything to reprimand it.

"He continued to shout loudly, and I'm afraid everyone in and outside the banquet hall knew about it!"

Liao Changshi nodded repeatedly with a solemn expression, took Bing Meilin's hand with both hands and shook it heavily:

"Merlin is absolutely right! I will report this to the prince right away! Merlin, please come with me!"

He could spread rumors, but Bing Meilin didn't have the courage to face the anger of Prince Beijing and the possibility of confronting Cao Kuangru and Ouyang Guiqing face to face.

He immediately pulled his hand away and said with a smile, "There's no need to displease the prince so early in the morning.

"Why don't you wait until the prince is free and then bring up this matter."

Liao Changshi sneered in his heart, and let him loosen his hand, nodded and turned away: "Then I will go and serve the prince first, and we will talk in detail later!"

Bing Meilin bowed repeatedly and the two separated.

There are many people in this world who want to curry favor with the rich and powerful, but the most disgusting are those who have the desire but not the courage, who are clever but irresponsible!

Liao Changshi cursed in his heart and quickly went to the main cabin.

But Prince Beijing was already dressed neatly, wearing a white robe embroidered with silver python patterns, looking particularly elegant and graceful.

He couldn't help but smile and praise: "What a romantic man! The prince is in great spirits today!"

Prince Beijing smiled complacently.

Ouyang Bao, who had arrived earlier, also smiled enviously: "When can I have one-third of the grace and elegance of the prince, my mother won't have to worry about my marriage anymore!"

"With your status and prospects now, are you still worried about not being able to find a good marriage?"

Prince Beijing took the opportunity to win him over, “My princess has several younger sisters in her family, and I vaguely remember that some of them are not yet engaged.

"I'll help you find out when I get back. If there's a suitable one, we can become brothers-in-law!"

Ouyang Bao was overjoyed, raised his hands high, and bowed to the ground: "Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty! I will do my best and wait for good news!"

Liao Changshi hurriedly congratulated him.

While chatting and laughing, he tied a lucky general to his ship. King Beijing was happy and proud, and couldn't help but sigh:

"It's a good omen to have such good luck today. It's a good omen! Let's go! Into the city!"

A group of people got off the boat, mounted their horses, and went straight into the city. They first went to the best restaurant to have breakfast.

When Prince Beijing had finished eating and drinking, and was washing his hands and drinking tea, someone came running outside to report: "Your Highness! Princess Lin is not at home!"

Prince Beijing slammed the table and stood up, shocked and angry: "Run away!?"

Ouyang Bao looked confused: "Who ran away? Why did they run away? Where did they go?"

Cao Yu and Liao Changshi looked at each other, each showing a relieved smile, and hurriedly stretched out a hand to hold Ouyang Bao.

Liao Changshi smiled and said to King Beijing: "A little girl is afraid of the prince's majesty and knows to avoid him. She is considered to be tactful.

"Why don't you forgive her this time, Your Majesty?"

Prince Beijing sneered and glanced at him:

"I traveled hundreds of miles day and night to get here, and I'm going to let her go just because she avoided me?

"Then where is my dignity?!"

Then he turned to the person who had reported it and shouted, "Where did you go?!"

Everyone looked at that man and tried to make eye contact with him.

Cao Yu also turned his back on Prince Beijing and shook his head quietly at the man, preventing him from telling the truth.

Unexpectedly, the man took another look at Prince Beijing's angry face and dared not lie. He knelt down and lowered his head and answered:

“I heard that we should go to Yangcheng Lake to eat crabs for the last time before the first snowfall!

"I left in front of the city gate last night! I didn't expect that Lin would walk at night..."

So the people who were watching relaxed.

Prince Beijing looked at him coldly: "Whoever deserves to be beaten, go and get it!"

He turned around and strode downstairs: "Let's go to Yangcheng Lake!"